they resolved to go to the city of Suph in order to consult Samuel, the seer, about them. Now the day before Saul’s arrival, the Lord had spoken to Samuel: “To-morrow, about this same hour,
I will send to thee a man, whom thou shalt anoint king over my people Israel.” It so happened that Samuel met Saul in the midst of the city. And Samuel said: “Go up before me, that you may eat with me to-day, and that I may let you go in the morning; and as for the asses, be not solicitous, for they are found.”[1] Next morning, when the day began to dawn, Samuel took a little vial of oil [2], and poured it on the head of Saul, and kissed[3] him, and said: “Behold, the Lord has anointed thee to be prince over His inheritance.”
Thereupon Samuel assembled the people, and Saul stood in their midst; and he was a choice man, being taller than any one else from his shoulders and upwards. Then Samuel said: “Behold him whom the Lord has chosen.” And the people cried out: “God save the king!”[4]
Now the people of Amalec were very bad, and the measure of their iniquity was full. God, in His wrath, sent Samuel to Saul, saying: “Go and smite Amalec and all that he hath. Spare him not, nor covet anything that is his, but slay both man and woman and child, ox and sheep and camel.”
Saul, therefore, waged war against Amalec, and defeated them along the line from Hevila till Sur. The common people he slew with the edge of the sword; but, contrary to the command of God, he spared Agag the king. The flocks and herds of little value he also destroyed, but spared the best flocks and the best herds. Moreover, filled with pride, and forgetting that success comes from God, he erected an arch of triumph[5] in memory of his victory.
- ↑ They are found. Samuel knew this, because God had revealed it to him.
- ↑ Oil. For the typical signification of oil see chapter XVI. The anointing of Saul was a sign that God had chosen him to be king; and at that moment the Lord gave to His anointed the gifts necessary for his high calling, i. e. wisdom, strength, justice.
- ↑ Kissed him. As a sign of homage.
- ↑ God save the king. By these words they acknowledged him as their king, and paid him homage.
- ↑ An arch of triumph. As if he owed the glory of his victory to himself and not to God.
